Reagan Kotschau scored with about a minute left, and No. 18 Colorado came from behind to beat No. 18 Kansas 2-1 on Monday in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium in Mansfield, Texas. The fourth-seeded Buffs (15-4-1) won their sixth straight match and beat the team that handed them their last loss, 1-0 in Boulder on Oct. 11.
Kansas went ahead in the 61st minute when Jocelyn Herrema turned at the top of the box and beat Brooke Goerish with her right foot, set up by Kate Langfelder and Lydia Viets. Hope Leyba answered in the 72nd, running onto Kaia Santomarco-King’s pass on a counterattack. Kotschau’s winner came off a long ball from Faith Leyba, with Hope Leyba also credited with an assist.
Kansas had the better of the first half and outshot Colorado 7-3 before the break. The Jayhawks finished with a 15-12 edge in shots and 8-4 in corners, and each side put six shots on goal. Hannah Healy hit the woodwork for Colorado in the 78th minute. Kansas (13-5-2) waits on the NCAA tournament selection show next Monday.
Leyba’s goal was her 43rd at Colorado, moving her past Nikki Marshall into sole possession of second on the program’s career list, according to CU. Kotschau’s was her 11th of the season, matching Leyba. “Both teams had a chance to win this match, but special players make special plays at the end of the game,” coach Danny Sanchez told CU Athletics.
Colorado plays top-seeded BYU in the semifinals Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 3:30 p.m. at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium. The final is Saturday, Nov. 14.
